Painter, Constance Marie
Age 90 of
St. Paul
,
MN
Beloved daughter of E.M. and Bessie Thompson of Geary,
Oklahoma
, wife of Gerald Painter, and much adored mother of January and Ronald Painter, died on March 21, after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson's disease in
St. Paul
,
MN
. She was the most loving of mothers, possessing an abundance of humor as evidenced by her return to
Iowa
State
University
in the 1960s to complete her Sociology degree in order to better understand her children's odd behavior. She was elected to become a member of Phi Kappa Psi honors society in 1969. She continued her education in her 70s simply for the pleasure of learning. Always a voracious reader, she volunteered at numerous libraries in
Iowa
and
Minnesota
. In her late 70s, she returned to work for the American Lung Association, where she made the friends of a lifetime. Her deep humanity and unconditional love will live on in all of us she touched so deeply. She is survived by her daughter, January Painter (Michael Somermeyer); son, Ronald Painter; and granddaughter, Tessa Somermeyer, of
St. Paul
,
MN
. Go in peace mother, the universe awaits you, and we will never forget you. Your loving children. Private family services were held at an earlier date in
Lawton
,
Oklahoma
.
